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Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff | Fri-Sat, October 17 & 18
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Advocate for your community
In the age of technology and freely available information, where there are five times as many words in the English language as there were during Shakespeare's age, sometimes the old methods are still the best.
So, you might be the most connected person there is, using a smartphone, tablet and a laptop while listening to your iPod and surfing the 9,237 channels on your satellite dish.
You're still more likely to trust what you hear from a friend, relative or acquaintance than what you see on Twitter or read in someone's blog.
Word of mouth still works.
And, it is that word of mouth that is the basis of the "Community Ambassador Program."
Twice a year, the Farmers Branch Family Advisory Board holds "Community Ambassador" sessions. These meetings are open to anyone in the community and generally feature a number of speakers who will enlighten the audience on all things Farmers Branch, from the school district to Economic Development, local amenities and opportunities to get involved.
Our new "Ambassadors" are then asked to go out and advocate for Farmers Branch in whatever manner they are able.
Perhaps that is helping to promote or further a special event on social media. Maybe it's volunteering at special events to help guests learn more about this community. Or, sometimes, it's just having that one-on-one conversation with a co-worker or out-of-town relative that might be looking at the Dallas area for a place to relocate.
They may start small, but these conversations become ideas that become trends that ultimately can make a big difference for the future of Farmers Branch.
The next meeting is coming up at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center's Pecan Room. Free childcare will be provided to anyone who can RSVP by October 14.
It's easy to advocate for your community.
This is the first step.
To contact Gary, click on his picture
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Valley View to lose one WB lane under I-35E Oct. 8-14
FARMERS BRANCH ~ With the goal of installing a concrete traffic rail, the LBJ Express project will be closing the far right lane of westbound Valley View, under I-35E, for one week, October 8-14.
 That intersection carries the distinction of being one of few affected by both the LBJ makeover and the 35Express project, with some work going on simultaneously.
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FARMERS BRANCH ~ As part of the special celebration of the fifth year of Bloomin' Bluegrass in Farmers Branch, fans from years past are being asked to help provide a photo slideshow of the history of the event, from its inception until now. The fifth annual Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff is set for Friday night and all day Saturday, October 17 & 18 in the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Admission and parking are both free. Farmers Branch Special Projects Manager Meredith Dowdy said fans are being asked to send in digital copies of photos they've snapped during any of the previous year's incarnations of Bloomin' Bluegrass. "They could be pictures of jamming in the park, audience members, artists, kids area or anything fun," she explained. "Then, we will take what we get and arrange for many of them to run on the big screen we will have on site at this year's festival." |
The Chili Cookoff is a Chili Appreciation Society International-sanctioned event where festival-goers can sample all manner of chili on Saturday, beginning at noon and running until the chili is gone. Awards will be presented later in the afternoon.
Kids will enjoy the free KidZone including a petting zoo, face painting, bounce houses and more.
Out of town guests can take advantage of the Stay & Play in Farmers Branch packages at nearby hotels including discounted room rates, shuttles to and from the festival and food and beverage vouchers to use at the park. Find out more about the Stay & Play packages and all details about the 2014 incarnation of Bloomin' Bluegrass at www.bloominbluegrass.com.
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Hundreds expected for annual Craft Fair, Oct 18 
SENIOR CENTER ~ The traditional head start on shopping for the holiday season gets underway Saturday, October 18 with the annual Craft Fair at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
Planned for the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the show will feature hundreds of local artisans selling handmade wares for the upcoming holiday season. Frequently a family affair, the annual craft fair attracts all ages to peruse the items handcrafted for consideration at the event.
Admission is free. Call 972.919.8740.
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Lectures and tours to highlight Celebration of Roses 
CITY HALL ~ Completing a trio of high profile events, the Farmers Branch Celebration of Roses is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, along with the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cookoff and the annual Craft Fair.
Slated for 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the free event will celebrate roses in the gardens of Farmers Branch, with a rose show and with a slate of speakers at Farmers Branch City Hall.
Shuttles will provide easy access to the rose gardens and the Bluegrass music at the Historical Park.
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Coffee with a Cop happens Saturday
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As a new means of community outreach, the public is invited to come by McDonald's from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 11 to have "Coffee with a Cop." Farmers Branch Deputy Police Chief David Hale said there is no agenda or speeches during that hour, just a chance for residents to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in their neighborhoods.
McDonald's is located at the corner of Valley View and Josey Lanes. Call 972.919.9305 for more information.
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National Night Out
Farmers Branch Police Department's Deputy Chief Mark Young (frame right) and Sergeant Mike Hairston (frame left) act as judges for the chili competition at the Randy Lane National Night Out block party, Tuesday night. Hundreds of Farmers Branch residents spent the evening outdoors with friends and neighbors at nearly 40 gatherings across the City.
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'Dracula' to visit Manske Library, Saturday
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The next meeting of the North Texas Dieselpunks, in honor of Halloween, will be a screening of the 1931 classic, Dracula, at the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Saturday, October 11 at 2 p.m.
Everyone is invited to enjoy this horror classic that reportedly caused audience members to faint during the initial release.
This screening is presented in part by the Farmers Branch Manske Library as part of its ongoing outreach to the community. The meeting is free and open to the public.
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Noted historian to lecture on secret societies
MANSKE LIBRARY ~ The history of some of the more infamous secret societies, from medieval through modern times, will be the focus of a presentation on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Manske Library.
Noted historian, Rollin Phipps returns to the Library to lecture on the mystery of secret societies. A few of the more prolific groups that he will discuss include the Knights Templar, Rosicrucian Order and the Skull and Bones society.
This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information call the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Dallas International Girls Cup adds teams
ROSS STEWART SOCCER COMPLEX ~ The Dallas Texans select soccer club have received commitments from teams in Sweden and Denmark to be among the first to commit to playing here in the Dallas International Girls Cup in 2015.
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Employee: Chris Donnelly  Title: Sr. Network Administrator
Department: Information Services
Hire Date: April 1, 2014
Background: I am originally from the Chicago area, and have over 17 years of IT experience. In addition to my IT skills, I am also a professional cameraman and video producer. I enjoy crossfit and Ironman and cycling. I even rode my bike from Los Angeles to Albuquerque.
What I like most about working for the City: After coming from the corporate world, it's nice to know that your hard work is helping to support the community. |
 Living history
A surviving member of the legendary combat squadron known as the Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Calvin J. Spann, pauses for a photo with the Manske Library's Paul Marcom following a special presentation at the Library on Tuesday. Lt. Spann spoke on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and their involvement in World War II. A full house of more than 125 interested residents was in attendance.
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Volume 4 | Edition 40 | Number 189 
is published weekly by the Communications Office
of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
Three-time Award Winner for
Excellence in E-Newsletters in Texas
Awarded by the
Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
www.texastamio.org
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E-recycling to be accepted weekly at Collection Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ In an effort to spread the benefits of CityWide CleanUp Day throughout the year, the Farmers Branch Public Works Department has announced that residents can drop off e-waste for recycling at the Citizen Collection Center during regular operating hours, beginning in November.
Located at 1399 Valley View Lane, the Center is open to residents only Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
E-waste accepted includes computers and peripherals, televisions, printers, copiers, cell phones, tablets, video and camera equipment and more.
Items not accepted for recycling include loose batteries, propane tanks, household appliances, light bulbs, refrigerators or air conditioners.
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FBPD advises residents to beware scams
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Police Department is asking residents, especially older residents, to be aware of a proliferation of telephone scams throughout the DFW area, from people claiming to be law enforcement or other official agencies.
Officials said callers will represent themselves as IRS, Immigration, DEA, FBI or even a local police agency. Sometimes they might claim to be an attorney, a politician or someone from a local utility company.
They will assert some kind of emergency that can only be handled by immediately sending them money.
Lt. Jay Siegel, of the Farmers Branch Police Department, said these scam artists are well rehearsed and can be quite convincing.
>> More
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In the Banner
Instrument cases bear the badges of honor from other bluegrass events around the country at the Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff, coming October 17 & 18 at the Farmers Branch Historical Park
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OCT 11
COFFEE WITH A COP
@ McDonald's, 2899 Valley View
10 - 11 am
972.919.9305
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OCT 17-18
BLOOMIN' BLUEGRASS
FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL &
CHILI COOK-OFF
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
OCT 18
CELEBRATION OF ROSES
@ Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch
972.919.2550
CRAFT FAIR
@ Senior Center
9 am to 4 pm
972.919.8740
OCT 21
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
@ City Hall
Study Session @ 5 pm
Regular Meeting @ 6:30 pm
972.247.3131
* All meeting dates & times subject to change. Call for verification.
OCT 22
TELL IT TO THE MAYOR
Open Office Hours with Mayor Bob Phelps @ City Hall
3 - 6 pm
972.919.2515
OCT 25 
HALLOWEEN IN THE PARK
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
NOV 11
VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION
@ Senior Center
10:30 am
972.919.2620
DEC 6
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
@ FB Historical Park
972.919.1433
NOV 28 thru DEC 30
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF LIGHTS
972.919.1433
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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 | | Teen Camp Video Blog |
 | | "Above & Beyond" |
 | | "John F. Burke Nature Preserve: An Overview" |
 | | "Farmers Branch Connections" |
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Updated Wednesday, September 17, 2014
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About the City of Farmers Branch 
An historic community in the geographic center of the DFW Metroplex, Farmers Branch boasts a residential population of 28,800 and a daytime employment population of 66,000. Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, the City's 27 parks and lush greenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The city's location in the center of the Metroplex and only 15 minutes away from both DFW Airport and Love Field, along with the 2,200 hotel rooms within the city, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information on the City of Farmers Branch, visit
lovethebranch.com or call 972.247.3131.
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